Embroidery Costing | Embroidery Cost Analysis and Pricing

Last Updated on 13/01/2022

Embroidery Cost Analysis and Pricing Techniques

Maruf Mahfuz
Department of Textile Engineering
World University of Bangladesh
Email: maruf.txt@gmail.com

What is Embroidery?
Embroidery is an example of ornamental stitching. Embroidery used to make garments more attractive and fashionable. Now it has come more popular and widely in apparel manufacturing industry. In embroidery techniques, a pattern or structure is formed on a flat basic fabric or nonwoven layer. The embroidery is formed by crossing two threads (front yarn and back yarn). The front yarn is transported to the back side of the basic layer by means of a needle. The stitch is formed by crossing with the front yarn with the back yarn. In contrary to weaving or knitting techniques, the pattern formation can be executed in any direction. Thus, in embroidery a 2D pattern can be constructed in any direction of the flat basic material. Embroidery originally was developed as a technique to produce decorative textile elements; today the flexibility of embroidery techniques makes them highly interesting for technical textiles as tailored fiber placement and near net-shaped structures can be produced rather easily.

Brief History of Embroidery:
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. In this way, it has been practiced for decades. In Siberia, around 5000 and 6000 B.C. elaborately drilled shells stitched with decorative designs onto animal hides were discovered. Chinese thread embroidery dates back to 3500 B.C. where pictures depict embroidery of clothing with silk thread, precious stones and pearls. Examples of surviving Chinese chain stitch embroidery worked in silk thread have also been found and dated to the Warring States period (5th-3rd century BC).

Embroidery Cost Analysis:
Embroidery fees are based on a “Per Stitch” count. After art is prepared, producer will run a stitch count to determine the cost of the embroidery. Once art is digitized, stitch count is determined. Stitch can estimate by, using these stitch count guidelines.

Before cost analysis of embroidery, apparel merchandiser should consider of few factors to determine embroidery costing. Factors are:

• Stitch number
• Embroidery type
• Estimate time to complete one batch
• Color of thread
• Cutting of applique
• Place of embroidery
• Resource involves in doing embroidery.
• Any restriction on selection on embroidery machine
• Any lab test requirement
• Any restriction on use of embroidery thread

If we use a single head embroidery machine properly, it should produce anywhere from 18,000 to 30,000 stitches per hour (300 to 500 stitches per minute). Using the cost figure calculated above, our cost per thousand stitches could range anywhere from $0.67 to $1.11, At an operating cost of $20 per hour, sewing at 30,000 stitches per hour produces units at $0.67 per hour, while a machine sewing at 18,000 stitches per hour produces units at $1.11.

Stitch Counting:
Here are some ways to help estimate the stitch count for an image (but until it is digitized, this is just an estimate):

• 1 solid square inch of embroidery equals approximately 2,000 stitches.
• 1 solid 1/4 square inch of embroidery equals approximately 125 stitches.
• Your letters should never be less than 3/16″ in height and a letter that is 1/4″ in height equals about 100 stitches.
• Drop shadows in your logo will translate into 200 extra stitches per inch.
• Straight lines under logos typically require 200 extra stitches per inch. Fabrics, colors and artwork detail will affect the amount of stitches.

Prime Locations for Embroidery:

Commonly Used Decoration Sizes:

• Minimum Lettering – 3/16″ H
• Shirts – Left or Right Chest – 3″ x 4″ (logo height x logo width)
• Shirts with Pocket – above pocket – 2 3/4″ x 4″
• Cuff – 1.5″ x 2.5″
• Shirts – Short Sleeve Print – 3″ x 3″
• Caps – Front Panel – 2.25″ x 5″

Example of Embroidery Cost:
Generally following 2 factors which affect the cost of the embroidery most is

1. Stitch quantity of the design
2. Rate of per unit.

Here, a unit is considered as 1000 stitches. (Mostly for a dozen of garments unit is considered as 12,000 stitches).

The formula is,

…Stitch quantity
= —————————– × Rate per unit
……….1000

For example, if the designs requires 7580 stitches and the cost of the embroidery process is Tk. 0.50, the cost of embroidery per garment is,
.. .7580
= ————- × 0.5 = Tk. 3.79.
. ..1000

Conclusion:
Initially, embroidery was primarily or even almost exclusively women’s work, this changed abruptly with the introduction of embroidery machines. The work on the machine was exclusively men’s work, the woman was, however, still required as a helper-she took care of the replacement of broken needles and the threading, if a thread had ended. Embroidery no longer has the significance for the region as at the beginning of the last century, it is still an economic factor.

You may also like:

1. Parameters of Sewing Thread and Embroidery Thread
2. How to Read a Sewing Pattern | Tips for Using a Sewing Pattern
3. How to Improve Productivity and Saving Cost in Sewing Department

Mazharul Islam Kiron

Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. Mr. Kiron is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.

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